Two fathers' rights
protesters handcuffed former children's minister Margaret Hodge
during a family law conference, a court has heard.

Jason Hatch, 35, of Cheltenham, and Jonathan
Stanesby, 41, of Ivybridge, Devon, walked up to her during an
event at The Lowry Hotel in Salford in 2004.

Manchester Crown Court was told the MP for
Barking was trapped for 15 minutes and had to be freed with bolt
cutters.

Both men deny a charge of false imprisonment.

The court was told that the men were members
of the group Fathers 4 Justice, and wanted to gain publicity for
their cause.

Mr Stanesby told the minister she was being
"arrested" for child abuse, before cuffing her left wrist to
his, the court heard.

Conference session

Opening the case for the prosecution, Alan
Wolstenholme said Mr Hatch had intended to handcuff himself to
Mrs Hodge's other arm, but she struggled free with the help of
her assistant private secretary.

Mr Hatch was then grabbed by a security guard
but managed to get free and leave the conference at the Lowry
Hotel, dropping his handcuffs on the way, the court was
told.

"As
they got to within 5ft or so of Margaret Hodge
they rushed towards her "

Alan Wolstenholme, prosecuting

Mrs Hodge had spoken at the conference, which
was called Battle Of The Sexes, and taken part in a question and
answer session afterwards.

About 10 minutes into the session, she noticed
two men approaching her from the left of the platform.

Mr Wolstenholme said: "As they got to within
5ft or so of Margaret Hodge they rushed towards her.

"One of the two men took hold of her right arm
and the other took her left arm.

"As Stanesby grabbed the minister of state's
left arm and he said the following: 'Margaret Hodge, I'm
arresting you for child abuse."'